Welcome again! Did you miss me? Sure, in fact you probably did. There’s plenty of “way forward for transportation” information to maintain observe of. Let’s soar in.
It’s comeback week, and never simply because I’ve returned from trip. I’m speaking in regards to the biennial IAA Mobility convention in Munich and the purposeful effort amongst German automakers to indicate the world it might nonetheless provide compelling, technologically superior, and reasonably priced autos. The subtext of the splashy occasion that began Tuesday: “Hey, China, we’re not out of the race.”
VW Group, Mercedes, and BMW all showcased quite a few new autos, together with electrical ones. And executives made their battle cries: VW Group Oliver Blume struck a bullish tone in just a few interviews with reporters and laid out the corporate’s plan to be competitive in China, notably with EVs, a class the place VW has lagged.
However what about on the house entrance? Chinese language automakers have been pushing into Europe, and customers have responded. The German automakers are hoping their newest merchandise — together with a brand new all-electric Mercedes GLC, the BMW iX3 with its 4 “superbrain” computer systems, and the Volkswagen ID Polo and ID Cross idea — will protect and even develop market share. However they’ve some work to do. Chinese language firms like BYD virtually doubled their market share in Europe over the previous 12 months, JATO Dynamics reported in July.
One different IAA information merchandise of word: Rimac Expertise, the tech and elements unit of Rimac Group, has developed solid-state battery packs it says will likely be out there by late 2027. These batteries apparently pack within the power and may be charged from 10% to 80% in under 10 minutes.
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A little bit fowl
Hyundai seems to nonetheless be dedicated to Motional, in response to two little birds who’ve shared new funding data with me.
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October 27-29, 2025
Hyundai and Aptiv had created a three way partnership (known as Motional) with an settlement to speculate $4 billion within the effort. Aptiv backed out in early 2024, leaving Hyundai to both make investments its personal cash, discover different exterior companions, or shutter this system altogether. Hyundai opted to speculate $1 billion — $475 million straight into Motional as a part of a broader deal that features shopping for out three way partnership companion Aptiv. Hyundai agreed to spend one other $448 million to purchase 11% of Aptiv’s widespread fairness curiosity in Motional.
Now it seems Hyundai is investing extra into Motional in two tranches. The primary is being dispersed this 12 months and is about $452 million. The second comes subsequent 12 months, and I’m nonetheless attempting to nail down that quantity. That first determine is in step with reporting from a Korean outlet. Hyundai declined (a few occasions!) to answer my questions in regards to the funding. That’s fairly typical for giant companies to remain mum. Nonetheless, one little fowl who’s deep throughout the AV trade additionally famous that Hyundai won’t need to make an enormous deal about this, contemplating it’s additionally working with Waymo.
In different little fowl chirpings, there are two new hires at Normal Motors that you just would possibly discover fascinating. Sony Mohapatra, the previous senior supervisor of AI compute platforms at Cruise, has landed as director of AI and machine studying engineering at Normal Motors. And Paul Menson, who was the senior workers account supervisor of Megapack at Tesla, is now director of power storage programs enterprise improvement at Normal Motors.
Bought a tip for us? E-mail Kirsten Korosec at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com or my Sign at kkorosec.07, or Sean O’Kane at sean.okane@techcrunch.com.
Offers!
By way of, the transit software program startup that garnered consideration for its consumer-facing on-demand shuttle service, has made its IPO debut. The corporate, as I’ve talked about earlier than, has been batting round plans for an IPO for years.
Earlier this 12 months, it filed confidentially for an IPO — the second time it took this step. However this time, By way of took the massive IPO leap. The corporate, which is understood for its Citymapper cell navigation app, mentioned it sold 10.7 million shares for $46 per share. In all, By way of raised $492.9 million at a $3.7 billion valuation. That’s simply barely above its $3.5 billion valuation that it garnered again in 2023 throughout its final enterprise elevate.
We needed to wrap up this text earlier than it formally started buying and selling, however I’ll be again subsequent week with an replace.
Different offers that acquired my consideration …
Arc Boats, the Los Angeles startup based in 2021 by former SpaceX staff, signed a $160 million contract with Curtin Maritime for brand spanking new hybrid-electric tugs, that are anticipated to hit the waters across the Los Angeles port in 2027.
LeydenJar, the Netherlands-based battery supplies startup, raised €13 million ($15.2 million) in a spherical led by Extantia and Make investments-NL.
Commonplace Fleet, a fleet administration software program firm, raised $13 million in a Sequence A spherical led by Nova Threshold with participation from WEX Enterprise Capital, SNR, Garry Tan (CEO of Y Combinator), Salil Deshpande (Uncorrelated Ventures), and Apoorv Bhargava (WeaveGrid). Returning traders included Burst Capital, Canvas Ventures, Liquid 2, Evening Capital, Olive Capital, UP2398, and Danny Wen.
Notable reads and different tidbits
The Federal Aviation Administration introduced a brand new pilot program that can let electrical vertical takeoff and touchdown (eVTOL) startups check some operations earlier than they obtain full regulatory certification.
Hyundai’s once-buzzy electrical air taxi startup Supernal is having bother getting off the bottom. The corporate paused work on its plane program after a rocky few months that noticed workers cuts and the departure of its CEO and CTO, two individuals conversant in the matter instructed TechCrunch.
InDrive, the Mountain View-based startup that acquired its begin in Siberia and is understood for its bidding-based ride-hailing mannequin throughout Asia and Latin America, desires to be a worldwide tremendous app. Right here’s what and the place it’s concentrating on.
Jaguar Land Rover mentioned a cyberattack introduced car meeting traces to a standstill.
Lyft and Might Mobility have launched a robotaxi service in Atlanta, the primary business deployment within the two firms’ partnership.
Nevada’s Occupational Security and Well being Administration opened an investigation after a Boring Firm worker sustained a “crushing damage” engaged on considered one of its tunnels in Las Vegas. Work has stopped on the web site.
Tesla has the correct allow to start testing autonomous car know-how on public roads in Nevada. As I clarify on this article, securing a testing allow within the state is simple and straightforward. (Simply fill out the registry type, and be sure you have the correct $5 million insurance coverage protection.) Tesla will nonetheless want to finish the self-certification course of to have the ability to roll out a complete program. And it’ll want separate approval to function a business ride-hailing service.
Uber and Chinese language autonomous car startup Momenta plan to start out testing robotaxis in Munich beginning in 2026.
The U.S. Justice Division filed a lawsuit in opposition to Uber, accusing the ride-hailing firm of violating federal legislation by discriminating in opposition to individuals with bodily disabilities.
Another factor …
TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is correct across the nook — in round six weeks or so. And we’ve some high-profile of us from the transportation world coming onto our stage on the Moscone Middle in San Francisco. The occasion, which will likely be held October 27 to 29, will embrace Wayve co-founder and CEO Alex Kendall, Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana, and Flexport founder and CEO Ryan Petersen. And extra are coming. Keep tuned.
You should purchase tickets right here. And remember to take a look at our Startup Battlefield 200, a fairly unimaginable listing of startups that will likely be exhibiting — and a few pitching on the principle stage.